WREN currently administers three funds, totalling over £60,000 each year, that have been generated by local solar and wind farms as a result of Section 106 commitments made by developers when planning consent was given.
Decisions on who should receive grants are made not by WREN, but by a committee or panel drawn from the relevant parishes and towns. Panel members may include local councillors, staff from WREN and people independent of both councils and WREN.
The Middle Treworder Community Fund is worth £10,000 uprated annually for inflation. It is available to organisations in Wadebridge town, and St Kew, St Mabyn and Egloshayle parishes.
The St. Breock Wind Farm Community Fund has an annual value of £50,000 plus inflation, available to projects which benefit people in St Breock, Withiel, St. Wenn, Wadebridge, Egloshayle, St. Issey and St. Columb.
Wadebridge Energy Company’s solar installation at Nanstallon, established by WREN, which supplies all its electricity to the neighbouring South West Water sewage treatment works, gives £500 a year to Lanivet parish, which has decided to use it for the village of Nanstallon.
In addition, WREN has a £9,000 pa community benefit fund to support environmental and sustainability projects, or projects that aim to inform and educate on environmental and sustainability issues. This gives a wide scope, including energy, water, soil, river and ocean, biodiversity, pollution, transport, climate change, food, recycling, the natural environment, wildlife, and more. The fund is for not-for-profit organisations and groups operating in the Padstow and Wadebridge Community Network area (see map here). The money has been donated by Clean Earth Energy Ltd, a Wadebridge-based renewable energy company.
These are the community funds currently open for application, and those recently closed. Click on the heading to see more information and, where appropriate, download an application form.
Summary of dates for 2021 Awards
| Fund | Open | Close | Decisions made by |
| St Breock | 1st Dec 2020 | 12th Feb 2021 | End of March 2021 |
| Treworder | tba | ||
Current funds open for application
St Breock 2021
St Breock Wind Farm Community Fund
The St Breock Windfarm Community Fund opens for applications on December 1st 2020. The Fund makes grants to community, voluntary, and not-for-profit organisations in Wadebridge, Egloshayle, St. Breock, St Wenn, Withiel, St. Issey and St. Columb. More than £60,000 is available for projects that benefit these local communities and this year the scope is widened to address problems raised by the pandemic.
The Fund is responding to the new challenges thrown up by Covid-19 by providing rapid response grants to community groups, voluntary sector organisations, not for profit organisations, including CICs, who are providing services in response to the pandemic, or who have been financially impacted as a direct result of the pandemic. There is no closing date as such, but funds are limited and so applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis. The normal grants will also be available. There is a separate application form for each type of grant.
This is the sixth year of the Fund. Over that time it has helped a wide range of organisations and projects. Schools, sports clubs, theatre groups, music festivals, support services for vulnerable people, environmental projects and village halls have all benefitted.
Further details, application forms and fund guidelines can be downloaded from this page as Word documents. Click on the appropriate form:
Or contact WREN –
Email: communityfunds@wren.uk.com
Phone: 01208 622123
Closed funds and successful applicants
Treworder 2020
Middle Treworder Community Fund
Applications and awards from the Treworder fund were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and just three awards were made. Unallocated funds will be held over for future grants.
£2,500 to Wadebridge Foodbank for energy efficient lighting in their new premises.
£1,095 to Friends of St Breock Primary for "A better outside for everyone" - outdoor play equipment.
£976 to Cornwall Gymnastics Centre CIC as a contribution towards purchase of a vaulting table.
St Breock 2020
St Breock Wind Farm Community Fund
The St Breock Wind Farm community fund has granted a total of £60,900 to 28 not-for profit organisations in the parishes of St. Breock, St Wenn, Withiel, Egloshayle, St Issey, and the towns of St Columb and Wadebridge. Awards were affected by the the Covid-19 pandemic. A number of events and projects that applied for funds and were initially allocated money were subsequently cancelled. The money was returned to the Fund and reallocated.
For a list of recipients, click here.
Treworder 2019
Middle Treworder Community Fund
Wadebridge Renewable Energy Network (WREN) is delighted to announce the awards made from the Middle Treworder Solar Farm community fund.
14 local community groups benefitted from a total of £11,495 awarded by the decision committee in mid-October. Wadebridge Cricket Club was awarded £2,025 to replace ladies and junior kit. Wadebridge AFC received £1,000 for goal posts for girls and boys football and Wadebridge Carnival also received £1,000 towards the costs of the carnival.
Wadebridge Camels RFC mini & juniors were given £994 for a transportable welfare shelter for junior club members and Wadebridge Creative Hub received £990 towards a photography project called Wadebridge 2020 Vision.
Other recipients were Camhayle Theatre £951, Avalon Youth Theatre £850, North Cornwall Dragons Swimming Club £800, Cultivate Cornwall CIC £750, Wadebridge Community Theatre £565, Friends of Wadebridge Town Girls Football Club £520, Time to Shine CIC £500, Wadebridge Churches Together £300, and Wadebridge Bowling Club £250.
WREN chair Tony Faragher, said: “The awards this year to sports, theatre and other cultural activities directly address the object of the fund – to provide services or opportunities for disadvantaged people or enhance the social, cultural or community life. The awards will benefit young and old across the whole community.”
St Breock 2019
St Breock Windfarm Community Fund awards over £55,000
26 community groups in Wadebridge, Egloshayle, St Breock, Withiel, St Wenn, St Issey and St Columb benefitted to the tune of over £55,000 from awards made by the St Breock Wind Farm community fund. Projects were selected by committees representing each of the seven towns and parishes.
The full list of awards made can be downloaded by clicking here.
WREN Fund 2018/19
NEW £9,000 WREN Community Benefit Fund
This year WREN launched an exciting, new £9,000 community benefit fund to support environmental and sustainability projects run by not-for-profit organisations and groups operating in the Padstow and Wadebridge Community Network area. There were a good number of strong applications and not all could receive awards.
The Awards made were:
| £ | |
| St Issey in Bloom; raised metal bed for school kitchen garden | 772 |
| CINNG; community wildlife conservation through social prescribing | 1,190 |
| Camel CSA; relocation and refurbishment of off-grid solar PV | 2,922 |
| Polzeath Marine conservation; improve and enlarge educational space | 1,770 |
| Friends of Wadebridge Primary; environmental and wildlife projects for playground | 1,252 |
| Wadebridge School; microplastic education and recovery | 1,094 |
| Total | 9,000 |
Treworder 2018
£10,000 Middle Treworder Solar Farm Community Fund closed 13th September 2018
£10,000 was available for grass roots community and voluntary groups to run projects in the parishes of Wadebridge, St Kew, St Mabyn and Egloshayle. Projects should provide services or opportunities for disadvantaged people and/or enhance the social, cultural or community life of those areas.
The Awards made were:
Wadebridge and District Camera Club - £960 towards the cost of their 70th Anniversary public photography exhibition
Wadebridge Camels Rugby u-16’s - £950 towards the costs of their tour to France in 2019
Camel Community Supported Agriculture - £2000 towards the costs of their move to Treraven Farm.
Wadebridge Creative Hub - £500 towards the costs of Bikelights 2018
Tine to Shine CIC - £500 towards the costs of celebrating the Mexican Day of the Dead in October 2018
St Mabyn Parish Council - £562 towards ‘seating and eating’ in the playing fields
St Mabyn School PTA - £600 for a multifunctional outdoor space
Wadebridge School - £650 for construction of a Remembrance Peace Garden
Wadebridge Churches Together - £300 for ‘Incredibles’ Holiday Club in October 2018
Wadebridge Bowls Club - £600 to buy new bowls for the juniors’ section.
St Kew Playing Field Trust - £800 for the improvement and updating of facilities
Wadebridge Carnival - £1000 towards the costs of the £2018 Carnival.
St Breock 2018
St Breock Windfarm Community Fund has awarded over £54,000.
The Fund is for not-for profit organisations in the parishes of St. Breock, St Wenn, Withiel, Egloshayle, St Issey, and St Columb Town and Wadebridge Town. The fund is administered by WREN and the decisions on awards are made by the seven local town and parish committees.
Click here for a list of projects and awards made.
Nanstallon 2017
The Nanstallon Fund closed for applications on Tuesday 31st October 2017 .
£420 was awarded for repair of the Nanstallon village institute windows.
The original terms of the fund stated:
This money comes from the Wadebridge Energy Company's 100kW solar array at Nanstallon, which powers the South West Water sewage plant there.
To be eligible for funds you need to be a community group or voluntary organisation or a not for profit organisation. The closing date for applications is 31st October and the results will be announced by the end of November. Projects should either provide services or opportunities for disadvantaged people or enhance and enrich the social, community or cultural life of the area.
Middle Treworder Solar Farm 2017
The Middle Treworder Solar Farm Fund closed for applications on Wednesday 13th September 2017.
The panels awarded the following grants totalling £10,596:
Egloshayle Parish Church: £2396 for replacement seating in the church.
Friends of St Breock Primary School: £1086 for replacement playground equipment for years 3-6.
Wadebridge Carnival: £1541 towards the costs of the 2018 Carnival.
Wadebridge Scouts and Guides: £409 for their Crafts Fayre to promote art and crafts.
Wadebridge Creative Hub: £1540 towards the costs of Bikelights 2018.
Time to Shine CIC: £975 towards the costs of the Mexican Day of the Dead Festival, October 2018.
Loaves & Fishes Café: £500 towards the costs of a commercial dishwasher.
Camhayle Theatre Club: £237 to purchase digital controls for LED lighting.
St Mabyn School PTA: £599 for sound equipment.
Wadebridge Churches Together: £200 towards the costs of the Holiday Club in October 2017.
Wadebridge Tennis Club: £1113 for clubhouse and court improvements.
The original terms of the fund stated:
This money comes from the Section 106 agreement made at the time the Middle Treworder Solar Farm was given permission to go ahead.
To be eligible for funds you need to be a community group or voluntary organisation or a not for profit organisation. The decisions about who will get the grants will be made by a committee which includes representatives from Wadebridge Town Council , the Parish Councils of St Kew, St Mabyn and Egloshayle, the landowner and WREN.
The Committee wishes to make grants for projects that will benefit children or young people, people in fuel poverty or at risk of being so, low carbon initiatives, and climate change mitigation or adaptation.
Pengelly Wind Turbine 2017
The Pengelly CE Wind Ltd Fund closed for applications on 31st May 2017.
The panel awarded the following grants:
- Wadebridge & District Museum: £264 towards the costs of fingerpost signage to the Museum
- Wadebridge Carnival:£1000 towards the costs of putting on the Carnival in 2017.
- Friends of Wadebridge Primary Academy: £969 for the purchase of four bikes, helmets and gloves to use on the schools multi-purpose bike track.
- Wadebridge Creative Hub; £1000 towards the costs of putting on Bikelights in October 2017.
- Loaves and Fishes café: £500 towards the costs of a dishwasher for the café
- Cornwall Federation of Young Farmers Club: £1000 towards the costs of their Club Officer Training weekend in October 2017.
- St Breock Primary School: £998 for a wide range of equipment and resources to support outdoor learning.
- Wadebridge Young Farmers: £957 to purchase two barbecues to use for charity fund-raising events.
- St Breock Parish Church: £1000 towards the costs of external lighting to improve safety on the access paths to the church.
The original terms of the fund stated:
The fund is for ‘not for profit’ organisations. Projects should provide services or opportunities for disadvantaged people, or enhance and enrich the social, community or cultural life of the area.
The maximum grant for any single project is £1,000, so at least 14 projects can benefit this year.
St Breock Wind Farm 2017
The £50,000 St Breock Wind Farm community fund closed for applications on 31st May 2017.
36 grants were allocated by the various panels as follows:
The original terms of the fund stated:
In its second year, over £50,000 is available for not-for-profit community projects that benefit people in St Breock, Withiel, St. Wenn, Wadebridge, Egloshayle, St. Issey and St. Columb.
Organisations that applied for the fund in 2016 are very welcome to apply again in 2017, regardless of whether or not they were successful then.
A total of £51,785 is available for projects in 2017 (the original £50,000 uplifted by inflation). This is broken down by area as follows:
- St. Breock £12946
- St Wenn £12946
- Withiel £7767
- Egloshayle £5178
- St Issey £2589
- St Columb Town £2589
- Wadebridge £7767
Middle Treworder Solar Farm 2016
The Middle Treworder Solar Farm community fund closed for applications on 12th September 2016.
The fund had £10,566 to distribute – this amount being the original £10,000 uplifted by inflation, plus the return of the grant made last year to Mother’s Milk Café.
It received 31 applications from local groups, requesting a total of £33,763.42, so after much discussion by the award committee, these seventeen awards were made:
- 1st Wadebridge Scouts (£802.20) - Safety Buoyancy aids for the riverboats (lifejackets and ski-vests)
- Camels Rugby Club (£2,194.60) - First aid kits and professional training equipment (tackle bags)
- Churches Together Holiday Club (£150.00) - Kids’ Holiday Club 2016 'Jungle Jamboree ' for the October half term holiday
- Dragons Swimming Club (£1,000.00) - to upgrade Coaching qualifications to Level 2 for their five volunteer coaches
- Growing Wild Cornwall (£500.00) - 7.5 whole class woodland days so that every child at St Breock School can enjoy the huge benefits of learning in nature
- St Kew preschool (£180.00) - protective outdoor clothing – waterproof and mudproof clothing for all year round activities
- St Kew Primary 'Growing for Gold' (£1,150.00) - additional polytunnel, an irrigation system, dry-wipe whiteboard and tools to enable use as an outdoor science room
- St Mabyn Home School Association (£690.00) - Polytunnel and growing equipment to support children’s outdoor education and learning
- St Mabyn Parish Council (£499.20) - New play and fitness equipment for the Playing Fields
- Time to Shine CIC (£300.00) - ‘El Dia de los Muertos’ Celebration (Day of the Dead) – a Mexican themed alternative to Halloween
- Wadebridge 1942 Squadron Cadets (£200.00) - Resources to help set up a newly formed Squadron in Wadebridge
- Wadebridge Carnival 2017 (£500.00) - to support the activities in the 2017 Carnival
- Wadebridge Community Theatre/Hopeful Monsters (£500.00) - towards the costs of their 2017 production of ‘Master and Margarita’ by Mikhail Bulgakov
- Wadebridge Creative Hub - 'Write Wadebridge' (£150.00) - a writing workshop ‘Write Wadebridge’ to bring together all sections of the local community to write about living and working in Wadebridge
- Wadebridge Festival of Music and Speech(£500.00) - venue hire and programme printing costs for the 2017 Festival
- Wadebridge Primary Academy (£850.00) - to purchase ‘balance bikes’ as an aid to learning to ride
- Wadebridge Tennis Club - 'mini tennis' (£400.00) - mini tennis - tennis lessons free of charge throughout the year to reception age children at both Wadebridge’s primary schools
The original terms of the fund stated:
£10,000 is now available for community projects to benefit people living in Wadebridge, and St Kew, St Mabyn and Egloshayle parishes.
The money comes from the Middle Treworder Solar Farm and is available as grants to charitable projects and purposes; with a focus on grass roots community and voluntary groups.
The fund committee’s priorities are for projects that will benefit children, young people and schools, or households in or at risk of fuel poverty, and also to low carbon initiatives and climate change mitigation or adaptation projects.
Pengelly Wind Turbine 2016
The Pengelly CE Wind Ltd Community Fund 2016 is closed for applications.
The nine successful applicants were:
- Burlawn Residents Association (£1,000);
- Cornwall Folk Festival (£306);
- Cornwall Young Farmers (£1,000);
- Project Paul May Play (£500);
- St Breock School (£1,000);
- Wadebridge Carnival (£1,000);
- Wadebridge Community Bus (£520);
- Wadebridge Primary Academy (£900);
- Wyndhurst Orchard (£100).
This comes to a total of £6,326. The unallocated amount of £3,674 is to be carried forward to 2017.
The original terms of the fund stated:
The Pengelly CE Wind Ltd Community Fund is again available for projects in St Breock and Wadebridge and this year there is £10,000 available for grants to not-for-profit organisations.
Projects should either provide services or opportunities for disadvantaged people or enhance and enrich the social, community or cultural life of the area. The maximum grant will be £1,000. Previous recipients of grants can apply again this year – all applications will be considered on their merit.
For application forms and further details contact communityfunds@wren.uk.com, click here to download, or phone 07858 489 254.
St Breock Wind Farm 2016
The St Breock Wind Farm Community Fund 2016 closed for applications on 12th February 2016.
The original terms of the fund stated:
The Fund is for not-for profit organisations in the parishes of St. Breock, St Wenn, Withiel, Egloshayle, St Issey, St Columb Town and Wadebridge Town. Priority will be given to projects concerned with energy conservation, or the installation of renewable energy generation, or renewable energy related education initiatives. However, other projects that have environmental, socio-economic and educational purposes will also be considered.
A total of £50,000 per annum is available for projects. This is broken down by area as follows:
- St. Breock £12500
- St Wenn £12500
- Withiel £7500
- Egloshayle £5000
- St Issey £2500
- St Columb Town £2500
- Wadebridge £7500.
For application forms and further details contact communityfunds@wren.uk.com, click here to download, or call in or phone the Energy Shop, The Platt, Wadebridge, Tel. 01208 812992
Middle Treworder Solar Farm 2015
This fund is now closed to applications.
Successful applicants, in alphabetical order, were:
- Camel River Community Boatshed
- Camhayle Theatre Club
- Cornwall Birdwatching and Preservation Society
- Growing Wild Cornwall
- St Kew Playing Fields Trust
- St Kew Preschool
- St Kew Primary School
- St Mabyn Preschool
- Time to Shine Club
- Wadebridge Bowling Club
- Wadebridge Carnival
- Wadebridge Creative Hub
- Wadebridge Dementia Action Alliance
- Wadebridge Street Band
- Wadebridge Youth Project
The original terms of the fund stated:
£20,000 is now available for community projects to benefit people living in Wadebridge, and St Kew, St Mabyn and Egloshayle parishes.
The money comes from the Middle Treworder Solar Farm and is available as grants to charitable projects and purposes with a focus on grass roots community and voluntary groups in the area around the solar farm.
The fund committee’s priorities are for projects that will benefit children, young people and schools, or households in or at risk of fuel poverty, and also to low carbon initiatives and climate change mitigation or adaptation projects.
Organisations must apply by 31st August 2015 using forms available from WREN, and the fund committee’s decisions will be announced towards the end of September. Organisations can download application forms and further details of eligibility, or obtain them by calling in at the Energy Shop, The Platt, Wadebridge, or by email to communityfunds@wren.uk.com.
Pengelly Wind Turbine 2015
This fund is now closed to applications.
Successful applicants, in alphabetical order, were:
- Cornwall Young Farmers
- Egloshayle Pre-school
- Growing Wild Cornwall
- Loaves and Fishes Community Help Café
- May Play
- Moor Harmony
- N.Cornwall Talking Newspaper
- St Breock Primary School
- Time to Shine
- Treraven Farm
- Wadebridge Bowls Club
- Wadebridge Carnival
- Wadebridge Creative Hub
- Wadebridge Girlguiding
- Wadebridge Memory Café Association
- Wadebridge Toy Library
- Wadebridge Youth Project Community Video and Mural
- Wednesday Arts and Craft Group (ARC)
- Whiterock Residents
The original terms of the fund stated:
£10,000 of funding for community groups is now available from Pengelly CE Wind Ltd. Applications are invited from voluntary and community groups in the St Breock and Wadebridge areas for up to £1,000 to support their projects. The closing date for applications is 4th May 2015.
To get information and an application form for the Fund, email communityfunds@wren.uk.com or download the application form here.
If you need a hard copy application form please write or call into the Energy Shop, The Platt, Wadebridge, PL27 7AE, or phone 01208 812992.
Lighting audit and makeover free prize draw 2015
This fund is now closed to applications.
The winners, drawn by Adrian Jones, Chair of the Wadebridge Chamber of Commerce, were Katy Luxton and Mark Hollamby in the residential category and Allium (of Molesworth Street) in the business category.
The original terms of the fund stated:
Two lucky households could win a lighting audit and LED bulbs with a value of up to £250 each and one business similarly up to £500.
This could be just switching from incandescent, halogen or compact fluorescent bulbs to the equivalent LEDs, or changing the light fittings as well.
But the lifetime value of the prize could be worth well over £250. In the best case, if you replaced 60W incandescent bulbs with their 7W LED equivalents, then over the expected lifetime of the LEDs you could save over £4,000.
£1,000 has been received from the Hawkey family in respect of the solar PV installation at The Olde House, Chapel Amble.
Entry is simple. Send your name, phone number, e-mail address and home address to WREN via e-mail to dominic.comonte@wren.uk.com quoting “Lighting Audit Competition”, or visit the energy shop in Wadebridge, or telephone us on 01208 812992. Business entries should give the name of both the business and a contact person, and the business address.
Entries are free and are limited to one per household or business located within the Wadebridge and Padstow network area, postcodes PL27 and PL28. Entries must be received by 16th March 2015.
Terms & Conditions
1. Entries must be received by the 16th March 2015.
2. WREN will draw 1 commercial and 2 residential winners at random from a ballot.
3. Residential winners will be entitled to replacement LED bulbs and fittings for all non-LED bulbs in their property up to a maximum value of £250.
4. Commercial winners will be entitled to replacement LED bulbs and fittings for all non-LED bulbs in their property up to a maximum value of £500.
5. Entry is free and only one entry will be accepted per household or business.
6. Entrants must reside, or for businesses be located, in the Wadebridge and Padstow network area, postcodes PL27 and PL28.
7. Entrants must send their name, phone number, e-mail address and home address to WREN via e-mail to dominic.comonte@wren.uk.com quoting “Lighting Audit Competition”, or visit the energy shop in Wadebridge, or telephone us on 01208 812992. Business entrants should give the name of both the business and a contact person, and the business address.
8. Directors and employees of WREN, and their immediate families, are excluded from the draw.
9. Estimated bill savings are based on the full prize value (£250) being used to buy 7W LED bulbs to replace 60W incandescent bulbs for £11.35 (current RRP) each, with electricity costing 12.5 p/kWh, over the expected lifetime of the new LED bulbs of 30,000 hours, which gives a saving of £198.75 per bulb and a total saving of £4,378.
10. The name and address details requested will be used solely to determine eligibility and to contact the winners.